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“Ready?” Caleb asked, looking toward the open doorway of the mansion.
“Can’t you just make me some hot chocolate and put me to bed?” I asked in a whiny voice. “Haven’t we had enough of the asshole for today?”
“Stop,” he said in a grim tone. “Sometimes, you forget he’s our brother.”
“I wish I could forget that,” I muttered, stomping toward the doorway.
“Hey!” Caleb called from behind me but I didn’t stop.
He’d turned into a peacemaker between me and Noah over the past five years. I wish he’d see his efforts were just a waste of time.
Our family was already as dysfunctional as it could be.
Dad gave up on every one of us. And being nice to Noah wasn’t going to bring Milla back.
I wanted to leave and never see Noah’s butt-ugly face again but Caleb wouldn’t let me. He insisted we continue staying here and be a family even though everything that mattered to us had burned away in a dumpster fire.
The only thing more painful than enduring Noah’s constant tyranny was living a life without Caleb in it. That was the only reason I agreed to suit up every day and work for the family business.
Walking inside the entrance hall, I found Noah seated on a couch, his gaze fixed on the door.Fuck, I cursed silently, realizing there was no way to escape him now.
“What took you guys so long?” he asked as soon as he saw me.
“I was hungry,” I said. “We stopped for some steak and beer.”
“You could’ve had that here too.”
“But I’d have to see your face, then. I didn’t want to spoil my dinner.”
Noah stayed quiet but drew in a long breath, swelling up like an angry bull. “Your attitude needs to change. We have a new enemy encroaching on our turf. The last thing I need right now is for you to show open hostility toward me. We need to present a united front to the board of directors and the investors.”
“Why should I be the one to change?” I challenged him. “Why can’tyouget off your high horse and get your head out of your ass for a change?”
“Caleb. Help me.” Noah’s gaze rested on my twin. “I can’t keep fighting with him anymore.”
“Then, don’t,” said Caleb. “Let him be.”
“Someone’s invading us,” said Noah. “We need to stick together.”
I scoffed and threw myself onto a couch. “No one’s invading anyone. Chill.”
“I’m always the bad guy to you,” Noah shouted. “Can’t you see everything I’ve done and will do is to protect you?”
My brows rose high on my forehead. “How old are we?” I asked. “You’re the eldest by a gap of fifteen minutes. We’re all the same age. We’re fucking triplets! You don’t have to protect us. We can handle ourselves.”
“I made a promise to Mom,” he bit out stubbornly.
I rolled my eyes. Why did he have to be so dramatic?
“Are you worried about the upcoming board meeting?” Caleb asked gently.
“You heard them talking,” Noah replied in a low, brooding voice. “They already love this Azalea Amhurst.”
“She has her qualities and you have yours,” said Caleb, trying to show him some reason. “The directors and investors will choose someone they deem fit to take over Dad’s position. You can’t control them or their decision, so there’s no point in stressing over it.”
“That’s just it.” Getting off the couch, Noah moved toward Caleb. “I can’t let these outsiders decide who gets to take control.”
“You’re supposed to be smarter than us,” said Caleb. “You should know that it’s the investors who control everything. More than making profits and perfecting our brand image, they’re the ones we’ve got to keep happy.”
